Category Archives: THE FUTURE OF LLLT

By Ms. Hannah M Clark, Global NetGeneration of Youth Cyberjournalist, with support from Dr. Ronnie Lowenstein, Executive Director Global NetGeneration of Youth

Recently, I was honored to be invited by Dr. Robert Boege, Executive Director of ASTRA to join ASTRA’s Futurist Dr. Ronnie Lowenstein, and serve as a NetGeneration of Youth Cyberjournalist covering a Congressional Briefing held in the Rayburn House Office Building on October 11, 2018 entitled, “Ending Opioid Use: A New Hope”.  The event was co-sponsored by ASTRA, The World Association for Laser Therapy, NetGeneration of Youth, The Optical Society of America, and thirteen other science and medical organizations.  What an opportunity to learn about PBM, “photobiomodulation,” an innovative medical technology, as well as, to be exposed to the organizational stakeholders who advocate for support of America’s ‘science and technology innovation ecosystem.’

What is PBM and What does it Promise?
When I first heard the term photobiomodulation (PBM) I was confused—initially the word sounded like a lighting … Continue reading →

Those suffering from America’s opioid crisis recently received two major messages of hope.

On Oct. 24, President Donald Trump signed the Opioid Crisis Response Act (OCRA) into law. Dozens of bills designed to address the diverse aspects of the opioid crisis were consolidated into one strategic and integrated approach.

OCRA received overwhelming bi-partisan support in both Chambers.

HR6, which is now Public Law 115-2716, broke new ground in being the first legislation to mandate aggressive development and adoption of alternative pain treatments that include “innovative medical technologies for pain management.”

On Oct. 11, Congress held its first ever briefing on ending opioid use through “innovative medical technologies for pain management.”

Photobiomodulation (PBM) was the featured technology.

Read the full news story on newsmax.com

Washington DC, 11th October, 2018. James Carroll (CEO, THOR Photomedicine), Prof. Praveen Arany (University at Buffalo, NY), Annette Quinn RN (Program Manager, Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh (UPMC) Cancer Center) introduced Photobiomodulation (PBM) to a large gathering of senior policy officials at the Rayburn House Office Building.

James Carroll presented evidence to Congress on the effectiveness of PBM for treating pain and where it can be used in place of opioids. Prof. Praveen Arany explained how and why it works, and Annette Quinn RN gave her first hand experience in treating over 854 patients with Oral Mucositis.

The briefing was a historic step for PBM, moving the conversation forward as members of congress were shown stories by members of the public on how PBM had impacted them and enabled them to live a life free from opioids.

The panel outlined the needs for PBM adoption as

1. Research grants to fund further basic science experiments, therapeutic dose, and large multicenter clinical trials.
2. FDA to create a PBM specific product code.
3. Public and private health insurance reimbursement.

For … Continue reading →